Johor café serves up jobs and hope for OKU community
Founded by entrepreneur Ruzimi Mohamed, this social enterprise shows how inclusive hiring can benefit both workers and businesses.
In Johor Bahru, Ruzimi Mohamed has opened a café called ChiKopi to provide employment opportunities and hope for the OKU (Orang Kepala Usaha) community. The six-person staff team consists of five OKU members, including two with hearing impairments and three wheelchair users. Born without both legs and one arm, Ruzimi understands the barriers faced by the OKU community and believes that opportunity, not sympathy, can make the greatest difference.
The café, launched with a RM300,000 investment, also provides a platform for small entrepreneurs to sell their products on consignment without charge, such as an OKU friend who supplies the sambal for nasi lemak. The menu features chicken dishes and coffee, including popular items like nasi lemak, nasi ayam gepuk, matcha strawberry, and longan latte.
Ruzimi aims to obtain halal certification and expand through a social-franchise model over the next five years, ensuring at least 30% of the workforce comprises OKU members. He emphasizes that inclusion is a business principle, not charity, and that with the right environment, people of all abilities can contribute, earn, and thrive.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Johor café serves up jobs and hope for OKU community freemalaysiatoday.com
